Kochi: The Kerala High Court has rejected actor Dileep’s petition seeking a CBI investigation into the 2017 actress assault case, in which he is the eighth accused. A division bench comprising Justices A.M. Mustaque and P. Krishna Kumar stated that the trial in the Principal District and Sessions Court, Ernakulam, is at its concluding stage, making a fresh probe unnecessary.
The court questioned the legitimacy of an accused seeking a central agency investigation and remarked that such a move could delay the trial proceedings. Dileep argued that a CBI probe was essential to expose the conspiracy behind the attack and to bring out facts that the ongoing investigation allegedly missed — including the recovery of the mobile phone used to record the crime.
However, the prosecution informed the court that their arguments in the trial had been completed, and the case was nearing conclusion. Observing that the petition seemed to be a tactic to stall the trial, the court refused to intervene.
With this verdict, the trial will proceed under the current jurisdiction without CBI involvement.
